Bottlenecks

While poking around to arm myself for this adventure, I found a list of the Top 100 bottlenecks across the country. One piece of advise I'd already picked up from here is to run nights when you can, to get that edge on the clock (used to work overnights and loved it). I was just curious to which extent y'all also strategize when it comes to avoiding these (generally speaking). Alternate routes, etc... or (because these are mostly around cities), are they simply avoidable?

BTW how they break down the peak and non-peak average speed, and even the % that changed from last year, is pretty cool:

https://truckingresearch.org/2019/02/06/atri-2019-truck-bottlenecks/

Any horror stories about any of these?

Count on any major city to have extra heavy traffic from 0500 until 1900, minimum. Plan accordingly.

All of those in chicago listed are for real and if theres one lil incident forgettaboutit

I can address part of your question, at least from my own point of view. I prefer driving at night. For me the benefits mostly are:

1) less traffic. This allows me to drive at a more consistent, high rate of speed, covering more miles and burning less fuel. At least on the freeways.

2) I dont have to worry about finding a place to park. I can drive my entire clock. At other times, when parking is more difficult to find, I usually start checking out potential parking places when I still have over an hour of driving left.

3) I'm a night person too. I feel more awake at night.

Night works great if you like it and it works with deliveries and pickups. I had to come North from Laredo to Iowa last week and hit San Antonio, Austin and Dallas all before morning, I would say it saved at least 90 minutes over day time probably more. I like to listen to local AM station when nearing big city that gives good traffic reports as I am driving. It has saved me more than once when deciding witch route to take, either through or around city.

. I like to listen to local AM station when nsearing big city that gives good traffic reports as I am driving. It has saved me more than once when deciding witch route to take, either through or around city.

SiriusXM radio has several channels dedicated to the major cities local traffic real-time conditions updated every 15 minutes. It has helped me out a number of times.

Worst bottleneck I deal with now is between Gary, IN and I-294 interchange on I-80 at the Indiana/Illinois line.

Both ways, from around 0900 to 1800. Wrecks happen all the time on that stretch of road.

Same with I-465/I-865 interchange in northern Indianapolis.

Much will depend on what areas you regularly run.

When I drove 48 states, I tried to start between 0330-0500 each day. Most times that helped me avoid problems. But I almost always tried to get through Atlanta before 0630.

Now I drive southeast regional. I find US highways in Alabama help avoid Birmingham and Atlanta. Many US Highways are great and have less traffic. I also find Florida weigh stations great for parking.

Good luck.

Thanks, everyone, for all this input; one thing about trucking that's drawing me in is all the strategies behind these kinds of logistical decisions, so hearing all this is a great kind of encouragement.

I have to deal with that 294/ 80 everyday. Really no way around.

For the Chicago and Chicagoland area listen to 105.9 (FM). They run traffic and weather on the 8's all day.

Worst bottleneck I deal with now is between Gary, IN and I-294 interchange on I-80 at the Indiana/Illinois line.

Both ways, from around 0900 to 1800. Wrecks happen all the time on that stretch of road.

Same with I-465/I-865 interchange in northern Indianapolis.